Northeastern Christian College Trip Report by Pam (Stutts) Morgan
For those of you who went on the cruise, “No Problem Mon”, “Let's be Jammin Mon”. For those of you that didn't go on the cruise, take a ride with us from the night before in Miami , to Haiti , Jamaica , Grand Cayman , and Mexico back to the shores of Miami . Kerry has put together a tour in pictures for you on the website. We have pictures of all the beautiful places we went and pictures of all of us to you. We hope you will enjoy our tour and in some capacity be able to share some of our moments together. One thing is for sure, we will all agree that it was a trip we will never forget, and hope you will join us on our next adventure.
I would like to paint our trip in words before we take you on the tour. There is so much to tell I'm hoping I do it justice. Well, here goes!!
The very first bite-your-nail thing that happened to me was, my luggage didn't show up in Miami with me. I actually saw them take it off my plane in Sacramento and put it on a cart to be hauled away. Talk about panic! No clothes for the cruise, yikes. Well, they got it to me that night at the Hyatt in Miami . No problem mon. I met Gerry and her friend Georgia in the Miami airport and we caught a ride to the hotel. I got so excited about seeing everyone that I left my only carry on bag in the lobby. Off to a good start, right? Well, we were.
Melanie came up behind me in the hotel and tapped me on the shoulder. We made an instant connection and were on our way to renewing our friendship and getting settled in our room. We were anxious to find others, so we hung out in the lobby quite a bit. I was expecting to see Buddy and knowing what a clown he can be, mistook a man (looking at him from the side) who had some similarity to Buddy (no hair on top), for Bud. He was looking around for someone and leaning over onto a cane. Of course, I didn't know it wasn't Buddy until I got face to face and called him Buddy. When you haven't seen each other for many years you have to take those chances you know!
Well, before long we saw the gang that was meeting the night before the cruise, for dinner. We were all to meet in the Hyatt Riverwalk Cafe. Ron and Judy Jones, Carol Jean Norris Edmonson and husband Jim, Larry and Jackie Smith, and Linda Kuhl Oehring and her friend Susie were coming in the next day. There were 19 alumni and 23 total going on the cruise. Two alumni drove down to join us for dinner Saturday evening: Iva Guiden Yoeman and Luvenia Compton Kelly. Melanie had reservations for all of us and when we got there they had given our tables away to a smaller group (2nd crisis). We moved enough tables so we could all sit together, even though we practically sat on some other guests' laps, ha! It was great to meet Iva's husband and to see Iva and Luvenia again. We had a great time getting reacquainted and taking pictures. Could not tell you a thing I ate!! We had a great group. Buddy & Judy McWhorter, Cherry and Barry Hofecker, Vada and Olen Watson, Donna Meyer Camilli, Daisy Smith Wilson, Kerry Crutcher, Gerry Simpson West and friend Georgia (whom we have adopted as an alumnus, along with Winston, Jim and Susie), Melanie Hinton Rinehults, Gloria Rice Griffin and her husband Winston, and yours truly. Throw in Iva and hubby, and Luvenia. How can you beat that group for good dining and company?!
The next day, Sunday, we started seeing some other new faces, like Larry and Jackie Smith. For those of you who don't know, Vada Jacoby and Jackie are sisters. Jackie was from a later class at NCJC. Melanie and I decided to walk to the Riverwalk Mall to eat lunch at the Hard Rock Café, but it was closed, so we grabbed something and headed back to catch the bus to the docks. We were shuttled off into a building where we did our paperwork and everything we needed to get on the ship. Was a pretty fast process. Melanie and I couldn't believe we were actually doing this. It had been a year of planning and it went by so fast that it was hard to believe we were actually there. We all had a lot of anticipation as to what the week would bring!
You can't believe what this ship looked like! The first thing I did was use my cell phone and call my daughter in California and say, I'm here!!! I'm on the ship!! It was a floating city! By the end of the trip I think I could find my room by myself (you think I'm kidding?!) The ship held over 3,000 passengers plus over 1,000 staff. The first night was casual dress in the dining room. Melanie and I set off to look around and see if we could see a few things before dinner. At 6:00 we went to our assigned dining room. There were three floors of dining rooms with the middle open so you could see into the next floor. Gorgeous! We took up 3 tables that sat 6 to 8 people. One waiter, Farouk (from India ), had two of the tables and one waiter, Daniel (from Russia ), had the other. 3rd crisis! No one had seen Linda Kuhl and her friend Susie. Where were they? Did they miss the ship? Their plane came in the day we left, and we were concerned they didn't get there. NO Problem Mon! We had a great dinner and afterwards I called the operator to get their phone # and see if they checked in. They were there. They were placed at a table on the other side of the dining room. (They signed up a month before the cruise so somehow they didn't get assigned to our tables) After the call, Melanie and I headed down to meet the others for the 9:00 show in the theater. If I recall correctly, it was the sleep show!! I was beat. Only had 1½ hours of sleep the night I left California . They had some kind of hypnotic voice presenting the show and I was out. What I did see was good but not my favorite show. Melanie and I didn't stay up late that night but thought we would catch up on sleep. We did stop in the shopping mall and get a plate of cookies (yes, each of us our own plate) at the Seattle Coffee Shop, one of each kind in the case!! All free, included in the ticket price. (By the way there is a soft serve ice cream machine available in the mall everyday, ummmm)
The next day we were at sea all day, and had reserved a conference room for 2 hours on Monday and again for 2 hours on Saturday. This was one of the biggest highlights of the trip for most of us. I had made an album of pictures and write-ups on everyone that sent me a picture and info on themselves. This was passed from one person to the other all week, so they could read and catch up with everyone. Most of us brought pictures of our families and passed them around so everyone could see what proud parents and grandparents we were. (Those of us who have children had to brag, you know) We put our chairs in a semi-circle and I asked everyone to talk about some memory they had about NCJC and what it meant to them. Well, that took almost the whole 2 hours once we got going. Some of us were crying and all of us were laughing. It was the most wonderful time!! One of the most memorable things and the one that got talked about the most was……. (I remember my brother Jim talking about this once) the sewage backing up in the Men's dorm. Do you men out there remember that? Remember the big hole my brother and some of the guys dug? No one was supposed to flush the toilets while they were doing the repairs, but someone did, and just about drowned everyone. Ha. What an image!!! We found out how fast those guys could move. Of course, I had to talk about my brother overhearing a plot to remove the pews and then Dean Myer sleeping on the pews that night. Guess who did that one? Ron Wright and Rod Frye. We also know who was supplying the itching powder for your roommate's beds and underwear. Same person that put the Ex-Lax in the brownies Rod ate. Should we tell you??? KC are his initials. There was the car hood ride in the snow, and the ingenious way all of us gals got food into the dorm after hours. Those boxes, coat hangers, and belts worked real well!! There was talk about the Greasy Spoon, Marinade Diner, and good old Philly Sandwiches. There were the wonderful times we spent in the campus devo's on the steps and in the formal gardens. Every once in awhile someone would break out in song from Plain and Fancy or the Gondoliers. I can't even begin to tell you what a wonderful time this was, and we concluded with songs and prayer. There were people standing in the hallways listening to us sing.
After our meeting, our day at sea was basically finding out where things were. Melanie and I met our Cabin Attendant the night before. His name was John (as in the toilet, he said). He would come in everyday and make our beds, change our linen, give us new towels, glasses, and clean the cabin. He would service our room twice a day. At night he would straighten up, leave us chocolate mints, and these wonderful towel sculptures on our beds or hanging in the room. He usually used my sunglasses on them. There was a stingray, elephant, bat, and I'm not sure what some were. We have some pictures for you, so, if you are wondering what these things are, now you know.
It seemed as though every day that passed, someone would say, "Did you see……," and then we would have to go look at a new spot we missed. I thought the days would be filled with swimming, lying in the sun, Jacuzzi, and hitting the gym. I have to say that I only lay in the sun once (getting burned, so no more of that), and was in the Jacuzzi once with Cherry and Judy Mc. You have so much to do, and frankly most of your time is spent eating. Gained 7 lbs on this cruise. Some of us ventured to Johnny Rockets a couple of times for a bite to eat, milk shake or choc. Coke. One of the favorite stops was meeting in the Seattle Coffee Shop, after the 9:00 entertainment, back in the corner to chitchat. They would have jewelry, clothes, etc. at different times on sale or auctions going on in the ship's mall. Mardi Gras parade and 50's night in the mall were some events. There was always something to do or see.
The other nights in the theater were a couple of variety shows, ice skating show, but my very favorite one was Fri. night. Bowser from the Shannanahs put on a show. It was great. All the 50's music and dancing they did made it an enjoyable night and kept me awake! Tuesday was our first stop in Haiti . That was a beautiful day at the beach. Palm trees, white sand, and tons of lounge chairs all over the beach for your pleasure. Some of us sat and talked for awhile, took pictures, then set out to see the beach. They also had what I would call a flea market. The Haitians had their wares on display, some on blankets on the ground, and some in a building with booths. Just like home at Denio's Auction. Ha. Only thing most of us didn't like was the aggressiveness of the people to sell to you. I'll never complain about our pushy sales people. Got some great buys. They would start pulling a # out of their head like $15, but by the end you had it for $2. They had a big barbecue on the beach, compliments of the ship. Donna and I couldn't leave the beach without swimming in the ocean. It was much warmer than the California ocean. Already time to go back to the ship and clean up for dinner at 6:00.
Tuesday and Friday nights were formal nights, or dress up dining nights. It was wonderful to walk into the dining room and have the waiters lay your napkin in your lap. Not sure I like the Madam thing though! Made me feel old. All of us switched around at the tables so we could visit with everyone. We probably confused the waiters but by the end of the cruise everyone knew who we were, the group of alumni that hadn't seen each other in 36 years. (Some of us) A highlight and memorable moment for me was when Daniel, our waiter, came up to Buddy and said he was a Christian. They sang a duet of Amazing Grace right there at the table!! It was great! Buddy gave him new words every night to learn. Like bodacious, flamboyant, stupendous, pugnacious, and honking. Daniel would write them down and learn them for the next night. He had to give a speech at the Midnight Buffet and asked Buddy to help him write it using the words. The great wait staff made our dining and cruise a great experience. Hey, if you can't make up your mind on which dessert you want, they bring both! Now you know why I gained 7 lbs.! After dinner, it was walk some of it off in the mall or get ready for the 9:00 show. There were always the midnight buffets too, with the chocolate sculptures and ice sculptures. Usually I was too full to eat much by that time.
Wednesday we stopped at Ochos Rios, Jamaica . That was my favorite place. After breakfast we all headed off the ship in our shorts and bathing suits, to catch our bus for the tour to Dunns River Falls. It was a small bus load of about 22 people, mostly us. Our driver on the Peat Taylor tour was fabulous. He took us to Fern Gully to see all the ferns, hillsides and vegetation. There were bread trees, allspice trees, and little vendors along side of the road. Interesting carvings they have there!! One picture, which you will see, is the view of our ship from up on the Ochos Rios hillside. On the trip everyone was having a great time, especially on the bus. Reminded me of our days on Old Yeller and the Red Baron. Naturally we had to sing!! We sang some of our old songs like the MTA. Those old folk songs were great, weren't they? Our driver said he was going to take Buddy and us all home, because he liked our singing. We could be his kids.
When we arrived at Dunns River Falls , the ones that were climbing the falls lined up at the bottom of the falls, and others watched, took pictures, or went to the beach. They made us hold hands going up the falls, which made it worse in my book, but we made it. Cherry and Barry were behind me and I'm sure they thought we were goners at times. One guy, not in our group kept falling our direction, not a small matter! Wait until you see the pictures. Barry's the one in the wide brim straw hat! Upon leaving the falls there were vendors in the same flea market setting, selling their wares. I didn't stop for them but some people almost missed the bus. We counted noses though. A few that didn't take the tour went shopping, sat on the beaches, or just stayed on the ship and visited with each other.
Thursday we docked in the Grand Cayman Islands (Georgetown). Melanie, Gloria, Winston, Linda, Susie and I went on the glass bottomed boat. Considering that I get motion sickness I'd been doing great, but I was feeling a little queasy before the boat excursion and Gloria's words were, “Pam is green.” We had another boat come up by us and it started ours to rocking. Not too good. We did get some lovely pictures of under the water and the fish being fed. It was beautiful. A lot of the group went shopping that day. I went back to the ship and got my sea legs back. Melanie went shopping after lunch. I stayed on the boat and did the sunbathing and Jacuzzi. In the evening it was basically the same routine of dinner and the 9:00 show. After the show, most of us went to the karaoke show. They had one on Tuesday, which Melanie and I missed. Buddy sang that night and we heard that he did very well. On Thursday night Ron and Buddy both entered the contest and received tremendous applause. Ron sang “I Did It My Way” and Buddy sang “Unchained Melody”. Both were finalists in the men's category for the finale on Saturday night in the Theater. (Big Time!)
On Friday we arrived in Cozumel , Mexico . Some went on a tour of smaller Mayan Ruins and quite a few of us went on a 6-hour tour to the extensive Mayan Ruins in Tulum. Next time I would opt for the smaller one. It was a lot of ferry (45 minutes) and bus (75 minutes) ride to get to Tulum where the ruins were. Kerry took a very unflattering picture of Melanie and me sleeping on the bus after the tour. If he puts that on the site I will strangle him!! He lives here in Sacramento too, so I can do that. As I was saying, the Mayan Indian Ruins were interesting and were definitely beautiful from standing on the cliffs overlooking the ocean and beach. It is such clear blue water. Someone said that, because the sand is white, it makes the water look much more clear and blue. We did some shopping on one of the stops going back and the ship provided us a box lunch. When we got back to Cozumel, most of us went shopping in town. They have tons of gorgeous jewelry stores. We had to be back to the ship by a certain time and we, of course, did not want to miss our dinner. First we had to find the ship. We thought it was at one of the docks close by. 4th Crisis! Whoops, that isn't our ship. We were told it was just about 2 miles down the road, so, Kerry, Melanie, Gerry and I took off down the road walking. We could do it and be there in time. Their two miles are 5 miles long. The ship wasn't there. We finally hailed a cab and got there just before the deadline! On one of our stops someone missed the ship and had to be brought out on a boat and hauled up! We didn't want that to happen. How embarrassing!! I think this was our lobster tail night, so didn't want to miss that. Ummm. They were small, so I had two. Wonder why I gained?
Well, the tours were over and we were on our last stretch of the cruise. Saturday was a whole day at sea. After breakfast, we all met at 10:00 in the conference room for our last group gathering in private. Again it was a marvelous time for all of us. We signed cards to be sent out to the teachers and staff that taught us - at least the ones we have addresses for. We knew that this was our last day together and we had built new friendships on our old ones. We all felt great satisfaction in being able to see one another again after all these years. We did quite a bit of singing. I had asked Ron prior to the cruise to prepare some Bible reading, etc. for a devotional and Buddy to have some songs ready. It was great! Both did a great job and most of our singing was spontaneous. We even sang one of NCJC's favorite ending songs, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You”. (With all the amens) We ended with NCJC's alma mater song, “Oh Christian, Northeastern Christian, We Hail You and We Salute You”. Some didn't remember all the words. I remembered most, so by the end we had it together. This was a perfect ending to a perfect cruise!!
After our meeting, it was lunchtime. We went down to the dining room that day for lunch. There are more than just the dining rooms to eat in. You could even have breakfast in bed, which I thought I might do, but never did. After lunch, we found some places we hadn't been – went down to the crow's nest to look through the windows to see where the ship is operated. Also, a great bird's eye view. There were just some spectacular views from some of the rooms on the 14 th floor. One of my favorite times was being on deck one night after the show and looking at the full moon shining on the water. You could see how fast we were clipping across the water. Amazing sight! I understand that the men's restroom on the 14th floor was outstanding, but didn't get to see it. I guess it is rated in the top 10 in the world. Didn't know they rated restrooms. Wish now I had gone in the ladies up there to see if it was as great. Kerry even took pictures! Ha. There were days that the wind was pretty strong. Melanie and I did, once, walk the track on the deck. It was like walking up hill in sand when you were going against the wind.
Saturday was pretty much doing what you want. Bowser had put on the 9:00 show on Friday night and was signing autographed pictures in the mall so Gerry, Georgia, Vada, Olen, Donna, and I'm not sure who else went down to that. After our dinner that night, we went to the last variety show and then to the karaoke contest finals. This was one of my big highlights! Both Ron and Buddy did great!! Ron took 3rd place and Buddy won the men's category. Both received major applause and standing ovations. “That a boy,Bernie.” I think Buddy knew everyone on the ship by the time we left so there were a lot of people besides us cheering both the men on. I think we were known as the “group” Ha. One thing that was so flattering to all of us, was a comment made to, I think Buddy, or one of the others. The person said that they couldn't believe that we hadn't seen each other in 36 years, because we just seemed to have a bond between us. They said we must have really had some close friendships back then. I think that speaks oodles for NCJC, the teachers, who we were then and who we have become as adults.
Sunday morning came too fast. We put our luggage out in the hall the night before to be picked up after disembarking the ship. Most of us met in a group to get off together. Some weren't taking planes until later but some of us needed to be off early. We all said our tearful good byes and vowed to stay in touch and do this again in 2 or 3 years. Maybe not a cruise, maybe a cruise. Another reunion will happen though, and we hope you will be ready to do it with us. Start saving your money. I hear some of the alumni (Donna, Gerry & Georgia) decided to do some shopping after getting back to Miami . They sent their luggage ahead to the airport and set off to some stores and to eat lunch. Bowser and his group showed up there. Small world. By the way, the girls almost didn't get back to the airport. Had to hail a taxi or let their luggage go without them!
I want to thank all of you that went on the cruise for the wonderful time you made for all of us to share. Everyone was a part of that and every one of you counts. Thank you so much for the appreciation you showed me. It has been my GREATEST pleasure to organize this search for alumni and do a reunion. However, it wouldn't have been near as good, nor would you be having a website to go to, if it weren't for Melanie helping me with the reservations and research on tours. Also, for the work Kerry does on putting together a website for all of you. Thank you guys so MUCH! You are appreciated!
I want to close this cruise letter with words from a song that I love.
Friends
Packing up the dreams God's plantedIn the fertile soil of you I can't believe the hope he's granted Means a chapter in our lives is through We'll keep you close as always It won't even seem you've gone In our hearts in big and small ways Will keep the love that keeps us strong
And Friends are Friends forever If the Lord's the Lord of them And Friends will not say never Cause the welcome will not end Though it's hard to let you go In our Father's hands we know That a lifetime's not too long To live as Friends
From all of the Cruise Gang and myself, we hope you will enjoy the tour. Our sincere hope is that you will join us for our next one.
Love all of you, God Bless, Pamela Stutts Morgan
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